Tube making machine



Feb. 12, 1935.

K. E. GARLING K 1,990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE f )A '7 Sheets-Sheep 2` Filed Jan. 28, 1929 I N V EN TOR. f'r/ a/Zing BY f ' ATTORNEY Feb. l2, 1935. K. E. GARLING 1,990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan, 28, 1929 '7 sheets-sheet 3 I a N N a m s s. Q I v S5 L a N m m N w N s@ Feb. l2, 1935. K. EfGARLlNG 1,990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28,1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN TOR. Karli @ari/ffy X Am i Feb- 12 1935- K. E. GARLING 1,990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE INVENTR.

m m BY w ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1935. K. E. GARLING 15990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 H mw o ,mm1 o l mum" gg INVIIsNToR. N l Kar/? (mf/1@ i Wmm ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1935. K E- GARLING 1,990,481

TUBE MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 7 sheets-sheet 7 lill 11mm lll* INVENTOR. I'Z/ (mix/figg [gym ATTORNEY Patented Feb. l2, 1935 SATES GFFEC 1,990,481 TUBE MAKING MACHINE Application January 28,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tube making machines.

Objects Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide improved machines for forming tubes from strips of paper; to improve the means for disposing the strips in helical formation in the tube; to apply adhesives to the strips whereby the strips are intimately united and xed in tube formation; to prevent the tube from adhering or sticking on the machine when formed; to cut the tube into predetermined lengths for commercial application; and generally to improve and simplify the construction, and provide a reliable and elcient apparatus.

Other objects, advantages and features ofthe invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a. machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view, taken as on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevational View of lthe tube cutting mechanism in inactive or non-cutting position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the cutting mechanism in active or cutting position.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the paper strip gluing mechanism. 'v

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the paper feeding and gluing mechanism, indicating the paper strips in dotted lines.,

Figure 8 is a sectional elevational view, taken as on the line 8 8 in Figure 6.

Figures 9 and 10 are transverse sectional views on lines 9 9 and 10 10 respectively of Figure 6, showing details of the gluing means.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the mandrel preferably employed, showing the manner of forming the paper tube thereon.

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a sectional elevational view through the mandrel, showing means for feeding oil thereto.

Description The invention is embodied in a machine which comprises a horizontal base or frame 20, suitably 1929, Serial No. 335,439 (Cl. 93-80) supported, as by legs. 22, having an enlarged As shown in Figure 13, the stock 28, acts to support the mandrel 30, on which paper lstrips are spun into a tube, and which extends into the stock an appreciable distance and is detachably held therein as by a set screw, 32. The mandrel is provided with a longitudinal bore, 34, extending from the rear end thereof well up toward the front. An aperture 36, is formed in the wall of the mandrel-beyond the end of the stock and at the point of entrance of the strip on the mandrel. The stock is also bored as at 38 at its rear end to secure one end of an elbow, 40. The rear end ofv the mandrel is preferably threaded into the bore 44 at this end of the elbow. 'Ihe elbow is retained in the stock as by a set screw, 42. An oil cup 46 is threaded in theother end of the elbow. Oil from the cup is supplied through the elbow to the mandrel, and through the aperture '36, for lubricating the under surface of the strip of paper to prevent sticking of the strip to the mandrel as presently described. 'I'he set-screws 32 and 42 allow for accurate adjustments in service.

As shown particularly in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the paper or other strips used in the formation of the tube are placed in the machine in rolls, 48. The spools 50, of the rolls may, for example, rest on horizontal members 52, (Figure 7), straddled across vertical spaced posts 54, mounted on a horizontal element 56, which in turn is cross-bar, 62,

60 and having bolts 64, at its ends extending into 20. The base 60 may be adjusted on main base 20 by loosening up on the bolts and by moving to the desired position, after are tightened. Weights 66 and 67 (Figure 8) may be disposed between the vertical posts 54, and rest on the tops of the paper rolls for maintaining a tension thereon and preventing undesired unwinding. These weights may be guided between the posts vertically by any means and in any preferred manner. As the paper rolls unwind, the weights continue to rest on the tops of the rolls and maintain at all times a constant, and if desired individual pressure. The construction permits ready removal of the top 86 determines spools and replacement. The various supporting structures may be braced, reinforced or strengthened by suitable mechanisms, but as these are purely optional details are not described at length.

As indicated in the drawings, I prefer to employ two paper rolls and the tube is formed by spinning the paper strips therefrom one on top of the other. The paper strips extend from the paper rolls as indicatedv in dottedv lines in Figures 'l and 8 andas there shown, the strip 68 is spun on the mandrel to form the inside of the tube and the strip '10, the top or outside of the tube. The outer -or top strip is tensioned by a weight '12 which, as shown in Figure 8, is mounted in a guide member '74 for free vertical movement, and acts by 'gravity to tension the strip 70. Theguide member 74 is attached to and carried by a horizontal element 76, which in turn is supported atvits ends by brackets -78, these brackets are carried on a short column which is, in turn, supportedonbase 60. The column 80 terminates in an enlarged top 82- (Flgures 'I and 8) from which the brackets rI8 extend. The enlarged top also acts to support a trough or receptacle 84 in which a supply of glue, paste or other adhesive material in liquid form lis contained. The trough is partially covered by a top member 86 which is cut away as shown in Figure 6 to snugly accommodate a glue roller 88, the latter being mounted-on a horizontal shaft 90, having ends journaled in thesides of the trough or receptacle 84. The glue roller dips in the adhesive in the receptacle. The paper strip 70 after passing underneath the weight 72 passes under a roller 92 mounted on a shaft 94 which is suitably supported in bearings 96 above the top 86 of the receptacle and in a horizontal position. The bearings are formed of pieces which are clamped to the sides of the receptacle. The' strip '70 now passes over the roller 88 uand in so passing is supplied with adhesive picked up by vthe roller in rotating through the adhesive supply in the receptacle in which it dips.

the amount of adhesive picked up by the roller 88, and, to this end, it may be adjusted toward and away from the roller to control the supply of adhesive. The adjustment of top 86, of course, adjusts the space between its end and the roller and the adjustment of this space serves to control the amountof adhesive passing through and carried on the periphery of the roller in its rotation.' The top 86 preferably terminates in a pointed or beveled edge where it is directed against the roller so that adjustment of the adhesive on the roller may be regulated very nicely and to a fine degree. While any suitable adjusting means may be employed for the purpose, I prefer to use parallel threaded rods 98 which are krigidly attached to the sides of the trough 84 and extend through a xed transverse bar 100 attached to the top 86 and are fastened with respect thereto by lock nuts 102 threaded on the rods. By the adjustment of these nuts, the top plate 86 is adjusted.

The strip 68 which forms the inside of the tube is provided with a weight 67 and passes underneath guide,.'74 thence directly to a roller 104. The shaft 106 of this roller is supported on a bracket 108 above another shaft 110 on which is mounted a. roller 112. The strip 68 passes over the roller 104, thence under the roller 112, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, thence to the mandrel. The ,strip '70, however, passing o er the glue roller The of the shaft 'on plate 20 clamp the the .pivot 150.

I'h'e receptacle 84, is detachably clamped on the base 82, and, to this en d, the construction shown in Figure 9 may be used. The bottom of the trough or receptacle may be provided with lugs 116 which t in openings 118 in the member 82 and are clampedthereinv by bolts 120 which extend through the openings into the lugs and are tightened against washers 122. This gives a sturdy, strong, rigid assembly and enables the trough and parts carried thereby to be d'etached, if desiredi The paper strips are brought to the mandrel in an oblique direction and are spun thereon helicalily into a tube.A The strips are spun on the mandrel by means of an endless belt 124 which extends over pulleys 126 and 128 located on vertical shafts 130 and 132 respectively. The belt is provided with a twist, 134, around the'mandrel. The paper strips are twisted and spun helically under twist 134, as the belt moves, they are formed into a tube of an endless nature which is continuously advanced on the mandrel by the action of thernoving twisted belt. The arrangement is graphically shown in the enlarged Figure 11. The strip 68 which is the inside strip engages the surface of the mandrel and the oil coming through the aperture 36 serves to lubricate the interior of the strip 68 so that it slides easily on the mandrel and does not stick thereto. The top strip 'l0 is wound on top' of the strip 68 and as above explained, it is tensioned so that it tightly embraces the strip 68, and, further, by virtue of they glue applied to the interior sidethereof, it is securely glued to the strip 68 so that the two are intimately aflixedand wrapped snugly as they pass under the twisted section 134 of the belt 124 and are spun into va tube thereby. As

Athe operation and use of a twistedbelt section is well known in the art for tube spinning, no detailed explanation is required, it being sufilcient to point out that the direction of travei and twist is such that as the tube is spun beneath the same, it is caused to advance upon the mandrel thereby.

The vertical shaft 1 32 is mounted on a plate' 136 which may be moved lengthwise in plate 137 (see Fig. 1) to vary the tension on the belt 124. The main base 20 is provided with a segmental opening 138 to allow the bearing for the shaft 132 to project beneath the base. Another opening 140 is provided lin the base 20 to permit the end toextend beneath said base. Through this opening also extend bolts for engaging plate 13'1 and bars 139 which when drawn plate 137 and 136 in adjusted positions. The extending ends of the shafts 130 and 132 are coupled together by a horizontal shaft 142 and beveled gears 144 on the ends of said shafts. One lof these. gears at the outer end is splined on said shaft. By this means shafts 130 and 132 are ldriven in unison and at the same speed. The shaft 130 forms a pivot and the plates136 and 137 are rotated in a horizontal plane around said pivot. This enables the twisted section 134 of the belt 124 to be adjusted longitudinally on the mandrelan adjustment which is often desired for augmenting the operationVA and emciency of the machine, The shaft 132 drives a gear train 146 on a .link 148 which is connected-at- 150 to another link 152 andvgear train 154. {Ihe adjustment of theA plate 1 36 around the shaft 130 as-a pivot causes the relative angular movements of The end gear of gear train 154 is ona Vertical shaft 156 and hasa helical gear 158 tne'links 14s and,1 52 on `tube into the pieces.

meshing with a corresponding gear 160 on the shaft of the glue roller which is thus rotated. By loosening the clamp 62, the plate 60 may be adjusted to correspond with the adjustment of the belt 124.

The main driving shaft 162 is mounted in bearings 164 supported on the base 20 and driven at continuous speed as by a pulley 166. A helical gear 168 on shaft 162 meshes with a gear 170 (see Figure l) on shaft 130 driving this shaft and consequently driving the coupling shaft 142, thence shaft 132 and through the gear train above described. This arrangement and assembly of machine elements, while not essential to the invention, has been found to be efficient and to give desirable results and means enabling the twisted section in the belt 124 to be adjusted longitudinally on the mandrel in an improved feature of the invention.

The paper tube 172 spun on the mandrel is advanced continuously thereon. I provide a mechanism for cutting the tube into short lengths, adapted for use as straws for drinks and other commercial applications. 'Ihe cutting mechanism preferably employed is best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. As shown, the tube 172 is fed through a tubular guide 174 having means providing a transverse slot 176 for the accommodation of the cutting knife 178 which cuts the The guide 174 is fastened in lever 180 by set screw 182. The lever is pivoted to bracket 183 (see Figures 4 and 5) and carries a rod 184 (Figure 3), attached thereto as by set screw 186. The rod is mounted for reciprocation in a bearing 188 which has end exterior flanges 190, between which it is engaged lightly and with little friction by a fork 192 on the end of one arm of a bell crank lever 194 (see Figures 4 and 5). Ihe bell crank is pivoted as on a pin 196, carried by a bracket 198 which is mounted on the base 20. The other arm of the bell crank has at its end, a roller 200 which engages in the side cam groove 202 of a shaft 162. The cam groove is largely circular but is provided with a short detent 206. While the roller engages the circular portion of the groove, the bell crank is maintained in its elevated position shown in Figure 4 and the guide 174 and the tube within are held raised from the cutting knife.

When the roller strikes the detent )of the cam groove, the bell crank and lever 180, with guide and tube are lowered (Figure 5) and the tube brought against the cutting edge of the disc which severs a piece therefrom. The bell crank is preferably steadied to its lower or cutting position by a spring 208 having one end attached to the bell crank and the other to any convenient stationary part as for example, the base 20.

The cutting knife is mounted on a movable support which reciprocates in a horizontal plane moving in the direction of the advancement of the tube and after the tube is depressed to engage the cutting disc, thereby severing it. As shown in Figure 3, the knife is mounted on a bushing 2l0'against a shoulder 212 on said bushing and is clamped securely in place against said shoulder by a washer 214 and a nut 216 which i s threaded on shaft 218. The other end of the shaft 218 is also positioned in a bearing 224 and the shaft preferably projects beyond the end of this bearing and terminates in a pulley 226. 'I'he knife, bushing and shaft rotate as'a unit and this rotation is imparted thereto from a separate source such as an electric motor 228, mounted for example on a bracket 230 (Figure 1) on the base 20 and cam 204 mounted. on main having a pulley 232 on its shaft which drives through a belt the pulley 226. By this separate motor, the knife may be given any desired speed.

The set screw 220 also screws a collar 234 to the bushing and the bearing 222`is positioned rather snugly between the shoulder 212 and the collar 234. Therefore, when the bearing 222, is moved back and forth, it causes a corresponding movement of said shaft 218 with the knife which is associated and moves therewith. The' movement of the bearing and consequently of the knife is obtained by the provision of a slide member 236 which is mounted in a straightline position in bearings 238 attached in suitable fashion to the main base of the machine. The reciprocation of the slide member 236 may be obtained by any suitable mechanism and is preferably secured by a roller 240 associated with the slide element and projecting into a groove 242 of a cam 244 (Figure 1) on the main shaft 162 of the machine. The groove 242 is circular and olf-set axially such as to cause reciprocation of the roller 240, the slide member 236 and parts associated therewith.

From the foregoing it will be seen that as the paper tube 172 delivered from the mandrel 30 through the guide 174, a distance equal the straw length, the lever 194 carrying the guide 174 is actuated to depress the tube 172 against the cutting edge of the knife 178. At the moment that this engagement occurs, the knife 178, the bracket 183 and guide 174 mounted thereon are advanced simultaneously and at the same rate of speed as the tube 172. The operation of the bell crank 194 is sufficient to depress the guide 174 until the knife 178 severs completely the tube 172. 'I'he ca'm detent 206 causes a relatively quick operation of the guide\174 and the paper tube 172 mounted therein, with the result that while the knife 178 and parts associated therewith are still moving forward, the guide 174 and paper tube held therein is retracted from engagement with the knife.

The paper tube 172 having been thus severed, the operation of the cam groove 242 retracts the knife 178, bracket 183 and guide 174 to the initial position, thereby dropping or surrendering the out portion of the paper tube while assuming the position for a repetition of the action just described.

By reciprocating the cutting knife in a xed plane, the operation thereof is simplified and perfected, While the movement of the relatively pliable tube 172 relieves the mechanism from any jarring strain such as isproduced by apparatus where the cutting element is lifted into and across the path of the paper tube.

I c laim:

l. In a tube making machine, a mandrel, a stock, said mandrel being slidably and adjustably positioned in said stock, means for afflxing the mandrel in the stock in adjusted position therein, said mandrel having a bore opening at its rear `end and an aperture connecting the surface of the mandrel with the bore, said stock having a bore for the accommodation of the mandrel, an elbow having one end positioned in the bore, and attached to the rear end of the mandrel, a re`- ceptacle for lubricant carried at the other end of the elbow from which lubricant flows through the elbow to the mandrel, means for aixing the elbow in the bore, and means for supporting the stock in service.

2. In a tube making machine, a mandrel, means A for winding strips helically and into a tube on the mandrel, said means comprising an endless belt tion, and means beneath the base for coupling justable supports.

twisted on said mandrel, the strips passing under the tube caused to advance'on the mandrel therethe twisted belt and being wound into a tube and by, pulleys for said belt retaining the same taut, the tube caused to advance on the mandrel thereand a movable support for one of the pulleys, a by, pulleys over which the belt passes, a base, roller for applying adhesive over which at least said pulleys having vertical shafts extending one of the strips passes, an adjustable support through openings in the base, a swinging supfor the roller, and means for coupling the shafts port' rotatable about the axisof one ofthe pulleys of the roller and of the pulley of the movable and carrying theother pulley, means for clampsupport for simultaneously driving, said means ing said support to the base in its adjusted posipermitting adjustment of said movable and adthe pulley shafts tocause synchronous rotation 4. A tube making machine ,according to claim thereof. 3, in which the coupling means comprises gear 3. Ina tube making machine, a mandrel, means trains, each gear train being rigid and forming for winding strips helically and into a tube on said a link and the gear trains being pivoted together mandrel, said means comprising an endless belt for relative angular movement. 15 twisted on said mandrel, the strips passing under y i the twisted belt and being wound into a tube and KARL E, GARLING. 

